Yarn design forming tool



July 23, 1957 A. J. CIROLH YARN DESIGN FORMING TOOL Filed Dec. 20, 1954 Patented July 23, 1957 YARN DESKGN FQRMING TGOL Anthony J. Ciroli, Medford, Mass.

Application December 29, 1954, eriai No. 476,419

11 Claims. (Cl. 411) This invention relates to the art of forming designs with yarn.

More particularly this invention relates to a woven design of novel construction and to the method and means for forming said woven design.

It is an object of this invention to provide a woven design of non-circular configuration, said design having an open center.

One of the specific objects of this invention is to provide an open center diamond-shaped design woven from yarn.

Another object is to provide a woven design having a plurality of loops arranged about an open center according to a predetermined plan, the outer extremities of certain selected ones of said loops being disposed at a greater radial distance from said open center than the rest of said loops, whereby the periphery of said woven design is noncircular.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a method of forming a woven design having the aforementioned characteristics. 7

Another important object of this invention is to provide means for making a woven design having the aforementioned characteristics.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig.1 is a view in elevation of a forming tool element that may be used for forming Woven designs according to this invention, the tool element being adapted to be used with a forming device schematically outlined in phantom;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the tool element illustrated in Fig. l, certain portions of the forming tool schematically illustrated in Fig. 1 being illustrated;

Figs. 3 and 4 are plan views schematically showing how the devices of Figs. 1 and 2 are utilized to make a woven design according to this invention; and,

Fig. 5 illustrates a diamond-shaped design woven in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 specifically, there is illustrated a yarn design forming tool element 102, which will be referred to hereinafter as an adapter. The adapter is to be used with a suitable yarn design tool 104 shown in phantom, the yarn design tool preferably being of the type described and illustrated in United States Patent No. 2,611,947, issued September 30, 1952, to Anthony J. Ciroli and Philip J. Cannata for Yarn Design Forming Tool.

The tool 1134 has a hollow head 106 in which is retractably mounted a plurality of anchoring fingers identified by the numerals 1 to 12. By suitable means associated with the tool 104 the fingers can be made to extend through peripheral openings in hollow head 106, as in Pig. 2, or to reside entirely within the hollow head.

The adapter comprises a circular disk 110 whose top surface may be convex as shown, or flat. The bottom surface of the disk may be either flat or concave. While not readily apparent in Figs. 1 and 2, it is to be understood that the adapter 102 is preferably concavo-convex so as to be properly seated on hollow head 106 which normally has a convex upper surface.

The bottom or concave side of the disk 110 is provided with extending pins 114 adapted to be received in suitable diametrically opposed openings in the top of hollow head 106 of tool 104. Pins 114 position the adapter on the tool. The adapter is itself provided with a pair of diametrically opposed openings 116 in quadrilateral relation with pins 114. Openings 116 are provided in order to accommodate other auxiliary design forming elements, such as the cross piece element for making pompous disclosed in the aforesaid Patent No. 2,611,947.

The adapter 102 is additionally provided with four upstanding guide posts 118 a to d on its convex side spaced at intervals of Guide posts 118 are bifurcated to provide two narrow extensions 129 and 122 defining a groove or notch 124 for receiving and retaining yarn. It is to be understood that the guide posts 118 may take some other form and may, for example, be in the shape of a Y, or be simply a flat topped projection as by eliminating extensions 120 and 122. The chief requirement is that four upstanding abutments or projections be provided in quadrature relation on the upper surface 112 of the adapter. As is seen from Fig. 2, the number of posts 118 bears a predetermined relation to the number of fingers 1 to 12 carried by the tool 194. In the instant example the tool 194 has twelve fingers, and each post 118 is in radial alinement with one of the fingers 1 to 12. As explained hereinafter such an arrangement makes it possible to produce a woven design having twelve pairs of loops whose extremities outline a diamond. Such a design may be described and is hereinafter referred to as a diamondshaped rosette. Alternatively such a design, illustrated in Fig. 5, may be described as a four-pointed star.

By varying the number, the height, or the spacing of posts 118, and/ or by using a tool having a different number of retractable fingers, it is possible to produce designs of different formation. Thus, for example, by utilizing a tool having sixteen fingers instead of twelve, and by providing adapter with eight posts 118 instead of four, and spacing the posts so as to be in radial coincidence with alternate ones of the sixteen fingers, it is possible according to the method described hereinafter to produce an eight-pointed star-like design comprising sixteen pairs of loops. Alternatively, by keeping the number of retractable fingers at 12, and utilizing an adapter having six posts 118 instead of four, the six posts being spaced in radial alinement with alternate fingers, it is possible to produce a six-pointed star-like design comprising twelve pairs of loops. Similarly, a three-pointed star-like design having twelve pairs of loops may be formed by keeping the number of retractable fingers at twelve and utilizing an adapter having three posts 118 instead of four.

The manner of producing the foregoing alternative designs will be readily understood by the following descri tion of the method for Weaving the diamond-shaped rosette illustrated in Fig. 5.

The adapter 102 is placed on tool 104, as in Fig. l, and the fingers 1 to 12 of the tool are adjusted to their extended position as in Fig. 2. Then, with its loose end being held, a strand of yarn A from a ball or skein is wound over the top of the adapter by looping it about the prongs or fingers 1 to 12. The first loop of the yarn may be made about a finger alined with one of the posts 118 as in Fig. 3, or about one of the fingers angularly displaced from each of the posts 118. The same design will result in either case provided the yarn is looped twice about each of the twelve fingers.

For ease of description and comprehension the fingers are numbered in Figs. 2-4 in the order that the yarn is 3 wound about them initially. Similarly posts 118 are alphabetically designed as a, b, c, and d, in the order that the yarn is passed over them and wound about the fingers. Thus in Fig. 3 yarn A is. brought across the top of adapter 1&2 over post llsa andlooped around finger 1. It isthen returned over post 118a, carried over post 118b, and then looped around finger 2. Then it is carried backthrough post 118k and looped about fingers 3, 4,5, and. 6 respectively, each of which is not radially coincident with one of the posts 118. Thereafter it is brought over post 1180, around finger. 7, back over post'118c,

over post 118d, around finger 8, back over post 118d, and

then about finger 9. Thelooping is continued in'a clockwise direction as illustrated until all of thefingers 1 to 12 have beenlooped. Then the yarn is carried fromabout finger 12-to and overpost 118b, aroundv finger 2, back over post 118b, and then the foregoing procedure-is repeated, theyarn being looped about fingers 1, 4, 3, 6, 5, 8, 7,10, 9, 12, and 11, sothat'two loops of yarn are. anchored on each prong or finger. At least two loops are required to be made about'each finger in order to form a roughly defined opening among the portions of the yarn which intercross to form a network at the center of the adapter. Unless the yarn is looped. twice abouteach prong, no center opening will result. 7 a

After theyarn A' has been looped about prong 11 for the second time, it is broughtacross the top of the adapter and is then utilized to form a series of overcast stitches 130. Alternatively the overcast; stitches may be formed from a separate strand of yarnor thread and yarn A may be snipped and'secured at the center of the adapter-following the" final loop about prong 11. In the latter case, it is secured in place by the second strand of yarn forming the overcast stitches 130. The order in which the fingers are looped and the method of forming the overcast stitches .130 is clearly described and illustrated in my co-pendingapplication Serial No. 461,060, filed October 8, 1954, for JewelStudded Open Center Rosette.

Briefly, the overcast stitches. are formed. by'running yarn A or a second strand of yarn into the center opening formed by the intercrossing portions of. yarn A,'then under and up'between adjacent pairs of loops, backidown through; center opening, under and up. between the next two. pairs of loops, and so on at least twice. about the tool until the intercrossing portions of yarn A are so drawn by the'overcast stitches. 130 as to form apermanent opening .132 definedby. the overcast stitches. After therequired number of overcast, stitches are made, the-yarn is snippedv and. neatly secured in the side of the formed center opening 132. i i

If desired, a jewel may be mounted in the open center and secured therein by a strand of thread or yarn anchored in the side of the permanent opening 132 in the manner described: in said co-pending application Serial No. 461,060. When the design has been completed it is removed from the tool by retracting fingers 1 to 12. Upon release the. formed design appears as illustrated in Fig. 5. Because: posts'118. are elevated, more yarn is required to traverse the adapter from finger 2 to finger 1, for example, than from finger 2 to 3 m from finger 12 to finger 11. Consequently the pairs of loops140, 141, 142 and 143 formed on fingers 1, 2, 7 and 8 respectively extend further radially than do the loops' formed on the remaining fingers, and, as a result, the outline of the design is substantially that of a diamond or a four-pointed star.

Unique variations in the decorative and ornamental characteristics of the. woven design may be achieved by forming the overcast stitches with yarn of one or more colors different from the color of yarn A and/or of a different size.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts specifically described or illustrated, and that within the scope of the appended claims it may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described or illustrated.

I claim:

1. In combination with a yarn design forming tool comprising a hollow head having a plurality of radially extending anchoring fingers, an adapter removably mounted on said hollow head in a plane parallel to the plane of said hollow head, said adapter comprising a disk having a plurality of symmetrically arranged projections adjacent its peripheral edge, said projections extending parallel to theaxis of saidhollow head.

2. A combination as defined by claim 1, wherein each of said projections has a groove in its free end. i

'3. A combination as defined by claim 2, wherein said projections total four in number. I

4. A combination as defined by claim 3, wherein said four projections are arranged in equi-angular relation.

5. An adapter for use with a tool for forming designs with yarn comprising a circular disk having a plurality of posts extending outwardly from. one side thereof, said posts being symmetrically arranged about the center of said disk and projecting means on the opposite side of said disk for removably securing said disk to a tool for forming designs with yarn. I

6. An adapter as defined by claim 5, wherein each of said posts is bifurcated at its free end. 1

7. An adapter as defined by claim 5, wherein said disk is concavo-convex in shape and said posts extend out- Wardly from the convex side of said disk.

8. An adapter as defined by claim 5, further including first and second diametrically opposed openings in said circular disk.

9. The combination of claim 1, wherein eachprojection is in radial alinement with one of said fingers.

10. In combinationwith a yarn design formingtool of the type comprising a hollow. head of circular, crosssection provided with a plurality of fingers. that extend radially from its. peripheral edge, said fingers being retractihle withinsaid hollow head, an adapter comprising acircular disk removably mounted on the top side of said hollow head, said dislchaving on one side a plurality of axially extending; projections that are positioned inopenings in the top:- side of 'said hollow head,.said disk having on the side opposite said: onev side four axially extending POSISLEZCh of which is. .providedtwith agroove at its free end, said posts being located adjacent the peripheral edge of said disk in spaced equi-angular relation-to each other.

IL'The combinationofi claim 1.0, wherein eachpost is in radial alinementiwith one of. said. fingers.

Ciroli et a1. Sept. 30, 1952 

